Wow! That looks great- you really put a lot of thought into that. I really like the mix of different leathers-, the textures and colors really make it pop.
I can't fathom why he wouldn't love it- and if he doesn't- check his pulse!
Nice rifles too.

Wow! Those colors are really vibrant. While we can debate what the "best" solvent is- what you are using clearly works.
I don't get what a mermaid has to do with a bison- but your customer does, and you did a great job on it. I really like it and I get the feeling that the bison is looking at me like I owe him money.

Outstanding work, I second everyone else' s comments on how nice and clean it is.
I really like the color. Could you share your dyeing technique? My attempts at using Fiebing's medium brown come out much darker. I've tried airbrushing it diluted 1:4 with denatured alcohol (not enough penetration) and swabbing with diluted dye. I can get an even color that looks good, but its much darker than yours.

I considered making one in that style- the thing I liked the most was the large throat that would hold a bag with ease- as opposed to the stitching pony style. What I didn't like is how you have to hold the tension with your legs- and that seemed to me to limit how you sat and where at.
I came across some plans on Etsy for a clam that's made of steam bent wood and the jaws are under tension- the clam holds the work and you hold the clam, no fighting to keep your legs holding the work.

I understand! Kudos to you for designing on the fly to overcome an unforeseen obstacle. To me that's sometimes the satisfying part- "Now lets see- how can I pull a rabbit out of my hat and make this work"

Wonderful bag, very clean and neat.. I really like how you did the shoulder strap- how it runs through a slider rather than a buckle- very clever. I cant recall seeing that before and I'm going to store that technique away so I can borrow it someday.
If I could offer one constructive critique- the attachment tabs for the handle on the flap- what if they were pointed like the strap and strap tabs, rather than squared off? I think it might tie the three together and flow a bit more. It looks wonderful the way it is, but I just think- what if? Again, great bag, I'm sure your mother is very pleased with it.

That looks great. You did a really good job on it and it shows that you've done your homework and have had a little bit of practice.
As a former Marine- the "Knife, Fighting, Utility" has a special place in my heart. My grandfather was a submarine sailor during WWII and I have his that was issued to him and followed him home. In his words "They gave all of us one on one of our trips through Hawaii."

WOW! I really like those. The contrast of the colors and textures really make them pop. I can't imagine all the complexities of making shoes and how hard it would be even if you had a mentor. My hat is of to you for jumping in and doing it. Don't be too hard on yourself about what went wrong and what might be better.
Shoes are one of the projects that rides around in the back of my brain and occasionally bounces to the front and says "wouldn't it be really cool if you could pull this off?" Someday maybe I'll try it and you really inspired me to go tackle one of the many challenges that lurk within my mind.

In the interest of full disclosure- while I haven't done much woodwork, I've had plenty of experience of seeing something that I want and figuring out how to get there. Add in the innate desire to make stuff and being a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to doing clean work (all traits I'm sure many of us share).
Hobby wise- my background is in blacksmithing and knife making- both process oriented crafts that require attention to detail in order to do good work. All of this overcame any inexperience with woodworking. Working with leather has redefined to me what a sharp edge is and how to get there. That greatly simplified sharpening and tuning wood planes I picked up at the flea market. Sharpening a plane iron is waaaaaaay simpler and faster than a head knife.